Fall art shows a big hit for RRPS high schools

RIO RANCHO – At Cleveland High School, a bird burst out of a heart-shaped egg. Meanwhile, on the other side of town, at Rio Rancho High School, a wolf made its way through a moon-lit and tangled forest.

It was the Fall Art shows at the local high schools at the start of December, and the halls of the respective schools’ performing arts centers were decked out with the best art from this year’s sophomores and juniors.

“At the end of every semester, CHS hosts an art show to showcase what students made over the course of that semester,” said Cleveland visual arts teacher Liz Olive. “Each art teacher collects work from their students, ensures it is ‘presentation ready,’ and hangs/displays everything in the concert hall lobby.”

At CHS, the display covers roughly 500 square feet of panels covered in 2-D art in the Performing Arts Center lobby. Additionally, there were six large pedestals with 3-D art that included miniature animal models, SpongeBob-inspired creations and cartoonlike sculptures.

The art shows, which were put on by both RRHS and CHS between Dec. 5-16, are an annual tradition that allows all artists to display their best work.

“Students are always so proud to show off their art. They also really like seeing what their peers are making,” Olive said. “It’s also good advertising for our art programs because students can see what to expect if they take an art class.”

Olive added that the reaction was supportive and positive from teachers and parents as well.

“We always get super kind and encouraging reactions from staff, administration and parents,” she said.

Up next, Olive says the junior and senior artists will be taking their talents to a districtwide visual arts show at the DO training center in January.